Scanned light display system using large numerical aperture light source, method of using same, and method of making scanning mirror assemblies

• US 20050264502A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Dean R., Willey, Stephen R., Montague, Thomas W., Sprague, Randall B., Urey, Hakan, Brown, Margaret K., Lewis, John R., Watson, Mathew D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,724,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/84
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7408 Direct viewing projectors, e.g. an image displayed on a video CRT or LCD display being projected on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7491 of head mounted projectors

Abstract

A scanned light display system includes a light source operable to emit light and a curved mirror positioned to receive at least a portion of the light. The curved mirror is configured to substantially collimate the received light. The substantially collimated light is scanned to form an image by moving at least one of the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other. Alternatively, the scanned light display system includes a light source operable to emit light, a curved mirror positioned to receive some of the light, and an optical element positioned to receive light reflected from the curved mirror. The optical element is configured to substantially collimate the reflected light. The substantially collimated light is scanned to form an image by moving at least one of the light source, the curved mirror, and the optical element. Scanning mirror assemblies and methods of making are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A scanned light display system, comprising:

a light source operable to emit diverging light;

a curved mirror positioned to receive at least a portion of the light and configured to substantially collimate the received light; and

an actuator coupled to at least one of the light source and the curved mirror, the actuator being operable to move the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other in order to scan the substantially collimated light to form an image.

2. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein a general direction of the light emitted from the light source is not aligned with a principal axis of the curved mirror.

3. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the light source is positioned in front of the curved mirror.

4. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the actuator is operable to move the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other in order to scan the substantially collimated light in one dimension to form the image.

5. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the actuator is operable to move the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other in order to scan the substantially collimated light in two dimensions to form the image.

6. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about at least one axis.

7. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the actuator is operable to move at least one of the light source and the curved mirror in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.

8. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises at least one array of light emitters positioned in front of the curved mirror, the at least one array having a longitudinal axis extending in a first direction.

9. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about an axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

10. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the curved mirror in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

11. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the curved mirror is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

12. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the curved mirror is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

13. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the curved mirror in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

14. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about an axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

15. The scanned light display system of claim 11 wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array of light emitters in a manner that maintains the distance between the light emitters and the curved mirror substantially constant as the actuator moves the light emitters.

16. The scanned light display system of claim 12 wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array of light emitters in a manner that maintains the distance between the light emitters and the curved mirror substantially constant as the actuator moves the light emitters.

17. The scanned light display system of claim 8, further comprising a control system coupled to the light emitters and the actuator, the control system being operable to couple signals to the light emitters in the at least one array to sequentially scan in the first direction and to couple a signal to the actuator to move the at least one array of light emitters and the curved mirror relative to each other.

18. The scanned light display system of claim 17 wherein the control system is operable to couple signals to the light emitters to sequentially actuate each of the light emitters at each position of the at least one array of light emitters when the at least one array of light emitters is moved in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

19. The scanned light display system of claim 8, further comprising a control system coupled to the light emitters and the actuator, the control system being operable to couple signals to the light emitters in the at least one array to substantially simultaneously emit light from each of the light emitters and to couple a signal to the actuator to move the at least one array of light emitters and the curved mirror relative to each other.

20. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the curved mirror and the at least one array of light emitters are positioned in front of an eye of a viewer, and wherein the system further comprises:

a sensor operable to sense the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye; and

an image modifying system coupled to a control system, the image modifying system causing the control system to alter the scanning of the light emitters and the position of the at least one array of light emitters so that the position of an image displayed by the scanned light display system can be viewed as the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye changes.

21. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the curved mirror and the at least one array of light emitters are positioned in front of an eye of a viewer, and wherein the system further comprises:

a sensor operable to sense the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye; and

a mirror actuator coupled to the sensor, the mirror actuator operable to alter the position of the curved mirror so that the exit pupil of an image displayed by the scanned light display system can be viewed as the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye changes.

22. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the at least one array of light emitters extends in the first direction with a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the curved mirror in the first direction.

23. The scanned light display system of claim 22 wherein the curved mirror has a focal surface, and wherein the at least one array of light emitters are positioned substantially at the focal surface.

24. The scanned light display system of claim 23 wherein the curved mirror is a spherical mirror and the focal surface is a focal sphere.

25. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitters, the number of the light emitters being less than the number of pixels of a pixel line of the image.

26. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the curved mirror and the at least one array of light emitters are positioned in front of an eye of a viewer, and wherein the scanned light display system further comprises an optical filter positioned between the at least one array of light emitters and the eye of the viewer, the optical filter being operative to substantially attenuate extraneous light reflected from the curved mirror toward the eye of the viewer.

27. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the curved mirror comprises a stationary curved mirror.

28. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the curved mirror comprises a mirror that is at least partially transparent.

29. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the light source includes an array of light sources and wherein the curved mirror comprises a narrow-band mirror that preferentially reflects light within a range of at least one wavelength of the light emitted by the light sources in the array.

30. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the curved mirror comprises a spherical mirror.

31. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the curved mirror comprises a Fresnel mirror.

32. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the curved mirror comprises a diffractive mirror.

33. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the light emitters comprise:

a plurality of light sources; and

a plurality of light pipes each extending from a respective one of the light sources to a respective location in the at least one array.

34. The scanned light display system of claim 8 wherein the at least one array of light emitters comprises a substantially linear array of light emitters.

35. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the curved mirror and the light emitters are positioned in front of an eye of the viewer at a distance closer than a viewer'"'"'s eye is able to focus.

36. The scanned light display system of claim 1, further comprising a partially transparent mirror located and oriented to redirect light emitted from the light source upwardly to the curved mirror.

37. The scanned light display system of claim 1, further comprising a mirror located and positioned to receive light emitted from the light source and redirect the light to the curved mirror.

38. The scanned light display system of claim 37 wherein the optical path of the light is folded.

39. The scanned light display system of claim 1, further comprising a reflective surface positioned to receive scanned light from the curved mirror and redirect the scanned light through a viewing aperture.

40. The scanned light display system of claim 39 wherein the curved mirror is located at a first focal point of an ellipse and a pupil of a viewer'"'"'s eye can be positioned at a second focal point of the ellipse to receive scanned light from the reflective surface.

41. The scanned light display system of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a magnetic actuator, the magnetic actuator including a plurality of electromagnets and wherein the curved mirror is coupled to a plurality of permanent magnets, each of the permanent magnets associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of electromagnets, the curved mirror operable to rotate about at least one axis in response to magnetic fields generated by the plurality of electromagnets.

42. The scanned light display system of claim 41, further comprising a bias magnet disposed between each of the electromagnets and a corresponding one of the permanent magnets, poles of the bias magnet oriented opposite poles of the corresponding permanent magnet.

43. A scanned light display system, comprising:

a light source operable to emit light;

a curved mirror positioned to receive at least a portion of the light;

an optical element positioned in front of the curved mirror to receive light reflected from the curved mirror, the optical element configured to substantially collimate the received light; and

an actuator coupled to at least one of the curved mirror, the optical element, and the light source, the actuator being operable to move at least one of the curved mirror, the optical element, and the light source in order to scan the substantially collimated light to form an image.

44. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the light source is positioned between the curved mirror and a focal surface of the curved mirror.

45. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the actuator is operable to move at least one of the curved mirror, the optical element, and the light source in order to scan the substantially collimated light in one dimension to form the image.

46. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the actuator is operable to move at least one of the curved mirror, the optical element, and the light source in order to scan the substantially collimated light in two dimensions to form the image.

47. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the actuator is operable to rotate at least one of the curved mirror and the optical element about at least one axis.

48. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the actuator is operable to move at least one of the curved mirror, the optical element, and light source in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.

49. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the light source comprises at least one array of light emitters positioned in front of the curved mirror, the at least one array having a longitudinal axis extending in a first direction.

50. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the at least one array and the optical element are stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about an axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

51. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the at least one array and the optical element are stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the curved mirror in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

52. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the curved mirror and the optical element are stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

53. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the curved mirror and the optical element are stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

54. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the at least one array and the optical element are stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the curved mirror in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

55. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the at least one array and the optical element are stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about an axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

56. The scanned light display system of claim 52 wherein the actuator moves the at least one array of light emitters in a manner that maintains the distance between the light emitters and the curved mirror substantially constant as the actuator moves the light emitters.

57. The scanned light display system of claim 53 wherein the actuator moves the at least one array of light emitters in a manner that maintains the distance between the light emitters and the curved mirror substantially constant as the actuator moves the light emitters.

58. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the at least one array and the curved mirror are stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the optical element in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

59. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the at least one array and the curved mirror are stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the optical element about an axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

60. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the at least one array and the curved mirror are stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the optical element in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

61. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the at least one array and the curved mirror are stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the optical element about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

62. The scanned light display system of claim 49, further comprising a control system coupled to the light emitters and the actuator, the control system being operable to couple signals to the light emitters in the at least one array to sequentially scan in the first direction and to couple a signal to the actuator to move at least one of the curved mirror, the optical element, and the light source.

63. The scanned light display system of claim 62 wherein the control system is operable to couple signals to the light emitters to sequentially actuate each of the light emitters at each position of the at least one array of light emitters when the at least one array of light emitters is moved in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

64. The scanned light display system of claim 49, further comprising a control system coupled to the light emitters and the actuator, the control system being operable to couple signals to the light emitters in the at least one array to substantially simultaneously emit light from each of the light emitters and to couple a signal to the actuator to move at least one of the curved mirror, the optical element, and the light source.

65. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the curved mirror and the at least one array of light emitters are positioned in front of an eye of a viewer, and wherein the system further comprises:

a sensor operable to sense the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye; and

an image modifying system coupled to a control system, the image modifying system causing the control system to alter the scanning of the light emitters and the position of the at least one array of light emitters so that the position of an image displayed by the scanned light display system can be viewed as the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye changes.

66. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the curved mirror and the at least one array of light emitters are positioned in front of an eye of a viewer, and wherein the system further comprises:

a sensor operable to sense the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye; and

a mirror actuator coupled to the sensor, the mirror actuator operable to alter the position of the curved mirror so that the exit pupil of an image displayed by the scanned light display system can be viewed as the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye changes.

67. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the at least one array of light emitters extends in the first direction with a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the curved mirror in the first direction.

68. The scanned light display system of claim 67 wherein the curved mirror has a focal surface, and wherein the at least one array of light emitters are positioned substantially at the focal surface.

69. The scanned light display system of claim 68 wherein the curved mirror is a spherical mirror and the focal surface is a focal sphere.

70. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the curved mirror, the light source, and the optical element are positioned in front of an eye of a viewer, and wherein the scanned light display system further comprises an optical filter positioned between the light source and the eye of the viewer, the optical filter being operative to substantially attenuate extraneous light reflected from the curved mirror toward the eye of the viewer.

71. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the curved mirror comprises a stationary curved mirror.

72. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the curved mirror comprises a mirror that is at least partially transparent.

73. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the curved mirror comprises a narrow-band mirror that preferentially reflects light within a range of wavelengths of the light emitted by the light emitters in the at least one array.

74. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the curved mirror comprises a spherical mirror.

75. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the curved mirror comprises a Fresnel mirror.

76. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the curved mirror comprises a diffractive mirror.

77. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the light emitters comprise:

a plurality of light sources; and

a plurality of light pipes each extending from a respective one of the light sources to a respective location in the at least one array.

78. The scanned light display system of claim 49 wherein the at least one array of light emitters comprises a substantially linear array of light emitters.

79. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the curved mirror and the light source are positioned in front of an eye of a viewer at a distance closer than the viewer'"'"'s eye is able to focus.

80. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitters, the number of the light emitters being less than the number of pixels of a pixel line of the image.

81. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the optical element has a fixed optical power.

82. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the optical element is operable to provide a variable optical power.

83. The scanned light display system of claim 82 wherein the variable optical power optical element includes a plurality of fixed optical power optical elements, the variable power optical element being operable to position one of the plurality of fixed optical power optical elements to act on the received light.

84. The scanned light display system of claim 82 wherein the optical properties of the variable optical power element are manually adjustable.

85. The scanned light display system of claim 82 wherein the optical properties of the variable optical power element are selected by power actuation.

86. The scanned light display system of claim 82 wherein the optical properties of the variable optical power element are automatically selected.

87. The scanned light display system of claim 43 wherein the optical element comprises at least one lens.

88. An eyeglass mounted scanned light display system, comprising:

an eyeglass frame having a pair of lens mounting frames, a bridge coupling inner edges of respective lens mounting frames to each other, and a respective earbow coupled to an outer edge of each of the lens mounting frames and extending rearwardly from the outer edges of the respective lens mounting frames;

a light source operable to emit light;

a curved mirror positioned to receive at least a portion of the light and configured to substantially collimate the received light, the curved mirror being coupled to the eyeglass frame and in visual alignment with at least one of the lens mounting frames;

an actuator coupled to the eyeglass frame and at least one of the light source and the curved mirror, the actuator being operable to move the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other in order to scan the substantially collimated light onto a retina of a viewer'"'"'s eye to form an image; and

a control system coupled to the light source and the actuator, the control system being operable to couple a signal to the actuator to move the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other.

89. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the actuator is connected to the bridge of the eyeglass frame.

90. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the curved mirror is coupled to a mirror support, the mirror support being connected to the bridge of the eyeglass frame.

91. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the actuator is mounted in at least one of the earbows of the eyeglass frame.

92. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the actuator is coupled to the light source by an elongated light source support that extends from the actuator in opposite directions, and wherein the scanned light display system further comprises a counter-weight mounted on the light source support at a position that is opposite a position of the light source support to which the light source is coupled.

93. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the light source is carried by an elongated light source support that is connected to at least one of the earbows of the eyeglass frame.

94. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the lens mounting frames define respective lens mounting planes, and wherein the curved mirror and the light source are positioned to the rear of the lens mounting plane of the lens mounting frame in which the curved mirror is in visual alignment.

95. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the light source comprises at least one array of light emitters having a longitudinal axis, and wherein the control system is operable to couple signals to the light emitters to sequentially actuate each of the light emitters at each position of the at least one array of light emitters when the at least one array of light emitters is moved in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

96. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the light source comprises at least one array of light emitters having a longitudinal axis, and wherein the control system is operable to couple signals to the light emitters to substantially simultaneously emit light from each of the light emitters.

97. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the light source comprises at least one array of light emitters having a longitudinal axis, and wherein the system further comprises:

a sensor mounted on the eyeglass frame, the sensor being operable to sense the position of the eye of the viewer wearing the eyeglass frame; and

an image modifying system coupled to the control system, the image modifying system causing the control system to alter the scanning of the light emitters in the first direction and the position of the at least one array of light emitters in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction so that the position of an image displayed by the scanned light display system can be viewed as the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye changes.

98. The scanned light display system of claim 88, further comprising:

a sensor mounted on the eyeglass frame, the sensor being operable to sense the position of the eye of the viewer wearing the eyeglass frame; and

a mirror actuator coupled to the sensor, the mirror actuator operable to alter the position of the curved mirror so that the position of an image displayed by the scanned light display system can be viewed as the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye changes.

99. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the light source comprises at least one array of light emitters having a longitudinal axis, the at least one array of light emitters being positioned substantially in visual alignment with the curved mirror, the at least one array of light emitters extends in the first direction with a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the curved mirror in the first direction.

100. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the actuator is operable to move the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other in order to scan the substantially collimated light in one dimension to form the image.

101. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the actuator is operable to move the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other in order to scan the substantially collimated light in two dimensions to form the image.

102. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the light source comprises at least one array of light emitters having a longitudinal axis.

103. The scanned light display system of claim 102 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about an axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

104. The scanned light display system of claim 102 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the curved mirror in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

105. The scanned light display system of claim 102 wherein the curved mirror is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

106. The scanned light display system of claim 102 wherein the curved mirror is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the at least one array in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

107. The scanned light display system of claim 102 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to move the curved mirror in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

108. The scanned light display system of claim 102 wherein the at least one array is stationary and wherein the actuator is operable to rotate the curved mirror about an axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

109. The scanned light display system of claim 105 wherein the actuator moves the at least one array of light emitters in a manner that maintains the distance between the light emitters and the curved mirror substantially constant as the actuator moves the light emitters.

110. The scanned light display system of claim 106 wherein the actuator moves the at least one array of light emitters in a manner that maintains the distance between the light emitters and the curved mirror substantially constant as the actuator moves the light emitters.

111. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the curved mirror has a focal sphere, and wherein the light source is positioned substantially at the focal sphere.

112. The scanned light display system of claim 88, further comprising a light filter positioned behind the light source, the filter being operative to substantially attenuate light reflected rearwardly from the curved mirror.

113. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the curved mirror comprises a stationary curved mirror.

114. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the curved mirror comprises a curved mirror that is at least partially transparent so that a background scene can be viewed through the curved mirror and the lens mounting frame with which the curved mirror is in visual alignment.

115. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the curved mirror comprises a narrow-band mirror that preferentially reflects light within a range of wavelengths of the light emitted by the light source.

116. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the curved mirror comprises a spherical mirror.

117. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the curved mirror comprises a Fresnel mirror.

118. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the curved mirror comprises a diffractive mirror.

119. The scanned light display system of claim 102 wherein the at least one array of light emitters comprises a substantially linear array of light emitters.

120. The scanned light display system of claim 88 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitters, the number of the light emitters being less than the number of pixels of a pixel line of the image.

121. A method of forming an image by scanning light onto a retina of a viewer'"'"'s eye, the method comprising:

emitting light from a light source;

reflecting the light from a curved reflecting surface;

substantially collimating the reflected light; and

scanning the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye to form the image.

122. The method of claim 121, further comprising:

sensing the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye; and

altering the intensity of the light and the positions from which the light are generated so that the position of the image can be viewed as the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye changes.

123. The method of claim 121, further comprising:

sensing the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye; and

altering the position of the curved reflecting surface so that the position of the image can be viewed as the position of the viewer'"'"'s eye changes.

124. The method of claim 121, further comprising substantially attenuating extraneous light reflected from the curved reflecting surface toward the eye of the viewer.

125. The method of claim 121 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitters and wherein the plurality of light emitters defines a curve which corresponds to a curvature of the curved reflecting surface.

126. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of reflecting the light from a curved reflecting surface comprises reflecting the light from a spherical reflecting surface.

127. The method of claim 121 wherein the curved reflecting surface comprises a substantially stationary reflecting surface.

128. The method of claim 121 wherein the curved reflecting surface has a focal surface, and wherein the light is emitted from a position that is substantially on the focal surface.

129. The method of claim 121 wherein the curved reflective surface comprises a narrow-band reflective surface that preferentially reflects light within a range of wavelengths of the light emitted from the light source.

130. The method of claim 121 wherein the curved reflecting surface comprises a spherical reflecting surface.

131. The method of claim 121 wherein the curved reflecting surface comprises a Fresnel reflecting surface.

132. The method of claim 121 wherein the curved reflecting surface comprises a diffractive reflecting surface.

133. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of scanning the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye to form the image comprises scanning the substantially collimated light in one dimension.

134. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of scanning the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye to form the image comprises scanning the substantially collimated light in two dimensions.

135. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of scanning the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye to form the image comprises moving the light source and the curved reflecting surface relative to each other.

136. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of emitting light from a light source comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations generally extending in a first direction and wherein the act of scanning the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye to form the image comprises rotating the curved reflecting surface about an axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

137. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of emitting light from a light source comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations generally extending in a first direction and wherein the act of scanning the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye to form the image comprises moving the curved reflecting surface in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

138. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of emitting light from a light source comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations generally extending in a first direction and wherein the act of scanning the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye to form the image comprises moving the light source in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

139. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of emitting light from a light source comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations generally extending in a first direction and wherein the act of scanning the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye to form the image comprises moving the curved reflecting surface in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

140. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of emitting light from a light source comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations generally extending in a first direction and wherein the act of scanning the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye to form the image comprises moving the light source in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.

141. The method of claim 121, further comprising reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the curved reflecting surface.

142. The method of claim 141 wherein the act of reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the curved reflecting surface comprises reflecting the light emitted from the light source from a partially transparent reflecting surface.

143. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of scanning the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye to form the image comprises reflecting the substantially collimated light onto the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye.

144. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of substantially collimating the reflected light comprises passing the reflected light through a lens.

145. The method of claim 121 wherein the act of substantially collimating the reflected light occurs upon reflection from the curved reflecting surface.

146. A method of forming a curved mirror structure, comprising:

providing a plurality of interconnected scan frames;

bonding a curved mirror to at least some of the scan frames; and

singulating the scan frames having the curved mirrors bonded thereto.

147. The method of claim 146 wherein the scan frames comprises silicon.

148. The method of claim 146 wherein the curved mirror comprises a plastic mirror.

149. The method of claim 146 wherein the act of bonding a curved mirror to at least some of the scan frames comprises selectively applying adhesive to the plurality of interconnected scan frames.

150. The method of claim 149 wherein the act of selectively applying adhesive to the plurality of interconnected scan frames comprises screening epoxy onto the plurality of interconnected scan frames.